Nelson Mandela Bay's entire mayoral committee will be attending a public hearing by the National Energy Regulator to oppose proposed tariff increases for 2018.
The delegation will be led by executive mayor, Athol Trollip, who said Metro residents were already digging deep in terms of rates and tariffs.
He said every cent of the city's additional rates income would go to promote infrastructure led growth and accelerate service delivery improvements.
“Major infrastructure maintenance and overhaul has begun under this coalition government. A R25bn maintenance backlog requires the administration's urgent attention, after decades of negligence and poor governance,” Trollip said.
“As such, Bay residents are already digging deep in terms of rates and tariffs. Every cent of this additional rates income is going to promote infrastructure led growth and accelerate service delivery improvements.”
Trollip said conversely, Eskom had shown itself to be “irresponsible and reckless with public money, thus a tariff increase cannot precede the Utility getting its house in order by ensuring financial prudence and reliable management.”
“Cities are the engines of growth and development and could be unnecessarily stifled by unreasonable tariff increases. As such, all Metropolitan Municipalities should reject Eskom's proposed tariff,” he said.
“I urge all Bay residents to participate in this public hearing on 1 November, the venue for which will be announced soon,” Trollip concluded.
